League: Major League Rugby

Founded in 2017 with it’s inaugural season played in 2018, Major League Rugby (MLR) is the highest level of professional rugby in North America.

2025 – RD 12: New England Free Jacks v Houston SaberCats

The top of the 2024 Eastern Conference host the top of the 2024 Western Conference in this cross-conference clash between the New England Free Jacks and the Houston SaberCats. The Free Jacks are on a 5-game win streak following a close victory over Rugby FC LA, and are aiming to go atop the Eastern Conference while wearing their City Jerseys honouring the City of Quincy’s 400th anniversary. On the other hand, the Houston SaberCats are on a streak of their own, with 2 wins on the trot following a big home victory over OId Glory DC.

These teams have met 3 times in the past, and the SaberCats are yet to defeat the Free Jacks. Can they do it on the road?

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2025 – RD 12: Seattle Seawolves v Rugby FC LA

The Seattle Seawolves host Rugby FC LA for a Western Conference clash under the Friday night lights of Starfire during Round 12 of the 2025 MLR season.

Both sides are playing their 3rd game in just over a week. The Seawolves secured a big victory over Anthem RC last Wednesday, before facing the NOLA Gold on Sunday. RFCLA played a pair of hard fought matches in Round 11, falling to both the New England Free Jacks and San Diego Legion by 2pts each. These teams have met 3 times in the past, with the Seawolves holding a 2-1 lead in that series. RFCLA picked up their lone victory over Seattle in their last meeting, a 35-29 affair during Round 5.

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2025 – RD 12: Utah Warriors v San Diego Legion

The Utah Warriors host the San Diego Legion for a Wednesday night clash, the first of two games in Round 12 for both the Warriors, who will travel to face Old Glory DC on May 4th, and the Legion, who will return home to California to host the NOLA Gold, also in 4 days time.

The Warriors are flying high after a come-from-behind victory over the Chicago Hounds, and will be looking to assert themselves over their Western Conference rivals, the San Diego Legion. The Legion are looking to build some confidence after snapping a 4 game losing streak and retaining the Cali Cup against Rugby FC LA.

These MLR Founding Members have faced each other 12 times in the past, with the Legion holding a dominant 9-3 lead. The Warriors took the previous meeting though, with a 18-31 road victory just a few weeks ago in Round 10 of the 2025 season.

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Tom Pittman

US-Eligible English Fly-half Tom Pittman played in Major League Rugby between 2026-2027. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

Born and raised in England, Tom Pittman attended the King’s School in Taunton, playing rugby while there and entering the Bath Rugby Academy while there. He attended the University of Bath and played in the BUCS during his time there. When COVID-19 cut his university playing short in his final year, Pittman headed to Scotland to play in the Super 6 with the Boroughmuir Bears, before joining the Jersey Reds in the English Championship as injury cover in 2021.

Pittman played with the Reds under former Chicago Hounds head coach Rob Webber from 2021 until their demise in 2023, when he joined the Cornish Pirates for the 2023/24 Championship season. At the conclusion of that campaign, Pittman headed to France and joined C’Chartres in the Fédérale 1, the French 5th tier. Pittman is the grandson of capped Ireland hooker John Hewitt Wilson who was born in Massachusetts, making Pittman US-eligible and leading to his inclusion in the USA Extended Player Squad (EPS) for 2025. Roughly 3 weeks after this inclusion, in the middle of the 2025 season, Anthem RC announced the signing of Tom Pittman for the 2026 & 2027 MLR seasons.

On 14th November 2025, Anthem RC confirmed this move ahead of the 2026 season. Since initially signing with Anthem during the 2025 season, Pittman earned his test debut with the USA against Spain in July 2025 as Eagle #592.

NARDB Player #1,572

Corbin Smith

New England native Corbin Smith played in Major League Rugby between 2025-2026. He represented Anthem RC (2025) and the California Legion (2026).

Corbin Smith grew up in Connecticut, where he played both football and rugby through high school at Trumbull HS. He attended Hartpury University in England for rugby, and was selected for the USA U20 side in 2024, and was named to the USA Extended Player Squad for 2025. On April 28th, 2025 (the 20235 trade/signing deadline), Anthem RC announced the addition of Smith for the remainder of the 2025 season. In his limited time with Anthem, Smith scored a try and 11 points in 5 appearances, starting 3 times and gaining over 200m in possession while recording a pair of assists.

Following the MLR season, Corbin Smith returned to the UK to re-join Hartpury University, once again competing in the BUCS Super Rugby competition for the 2024/25 season and the start of the 2025/26 season. However with Smith hovering on the edge of the USA Eagles squad, he returned to Major League Rugby for the 2026 season, signing with the California Legion who announced his addition on 17th March, 2026. He scored on his California Legion debut in a hard fought win over the Seattle Seawolves, when he was called into the starting lineup just before kick-off. He recorded over 125m made in that game.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 4

NARDB Player #1,571

2025 – RD 11: Miami Sharks v Anthem RC

The Miami Sharks host Anthem RC in an Eastern Conference match-up in Florida during Round 11 of the 2025 MLR season!

Anthem RC are playing their 2nd game in 4 days after a tough outing against the Seattle Seawolves during the week. The Miami Sharks are rallying after scraping past Old Glory DC last week, and look to build momentum against an Anthem side that is still hunting for their first ever victory.

These teams have met 3 times in the past, with the Sharks extending their series lead to 3-0 thanks to a hard fought 31-32 road victory in Round 3 of the 2025 season, which is still the closest that Anthem have come to a victory.

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2025 – RD 11: NOLA Gold v Seattle Seawolves

The NOLA Gold host the Seattle Seawolves for a cross-conference clash at the Gold Mine during Round 11 of the 2025 MLR season!

The Seawolves are playing their 2nd road game in 4 days after decimating Anthem RC on the road during the week. The Gold meanwhile, are more well rested but are looking to bounce back following a closely fought 17-15 defeat to the SaberCats in Houston. These teams have met 8 times in the past, with the Seawolves holding a 5-3 series despite the Gold taking a 32-31 victory in their last meeting in Round 11 of the 2024 season.

 

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2025 – RD 11: Rugby FC LA v San Diego Legion

Rugby FC LA host the San Diego Legion for their 2nd game of Round 11 of the 2025 season to contest the Cali Cup, after facing the New England Free Jacks all the way in Boston just 4 days ago.

LA came close to knocking off the reigning champs with a 23-21 defeat on the road, and should be confident heading into this game against the San Diego Legion, who are reeling on a team-worst 4 game losing streak following a 18-31 home loss to the Utah Warriors. These teams have met 3 times in the past, and Rugby FC LA is yet to defeat the Legion. Their latest attempt came in Round 4 of the 2025 season, where San Diego took a 36-28 home victory.

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2025 – RD 11: Utah Warriors v Chicago Hounds

The Utah Warriors host the Chicago Hounds in a cross-conference clash at Zion’s Bank Stadium during Round 11 of the 2025 MLR season!

The Hounds are looking to bounce back after a road loss in Seattle with a much-changed roster, while the Utah Warriors are coming off of a comfortable away victory over the San Diego Legion to continue their march up the Western Conference!

These teams have met 4 times in the past, with Utah leading the series 3-1 including the last meeting between these sides, a 31-45 victory in Round 2 of the 2025 season.

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2025 – RD 11: Houston SaberCats v Old Glory DC

The Houston SaberCats host Old Glory DC for a cross conference clash at SaberCats Stadium during a frenetic Round 11! The SaberCats are coming off a tight 17-15 victory over the NOLA Gold and are looking to build on that momentum against another Eastern Conference opponent. Old Glory DC on the other hand, are looking to get back into the win column following a second straight defeat last weekend.

These teams have met 5 times in the past, with the SaberCats holding a narrow 3-2 lead after taking the last contest between these two with a 17-38 victory in Round 8 of the 2024 season. Can the Flags level the series on the road?

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